Will Lufthansa Refund My Cancelled Flight?

Yes, if Lufthansa cancels your flight, you are generally entitled to a full refund. The refund process is designed to compensate passengers for the inconvenience caused by the cancellation, whether the reason is within Lufthansa’s control or due to extraordinary circumstances like bad weather, air traffic control strikes, or global pandemics.

Overview of Lufthansa’s Refund Policy

Lufthansa’s refund policy is designed to ensure that passengers are fairly compensated when a flight is canceled. The airline is obligated under Lufthansa Airlines Cancellation Policy, which mandates compensation and assistance for passengers in case of cancellations, delays, or denied boarding. When a flight is canceled, Lufthansa offers several options, including a full refund of the ticket price, rebooking on an alternative flight, or compensation, depending on the circumstances.

Overview of Lufthansa’s Refund Policy

When Lufthansa cancels the flight from their end, passengers have certain rights. The airline does not want any of its customers to suffer due to flight cancelation. Therefore, there are various options that a passenger has if the flight has been canceled by the airline:

Right to a Refund or Rebooking:

If Lufthansa cancels your flight, you are entitled to a choice between a full refund of the ticket price or rebooking on an alternative flight. The refund includes the cost of the ticket and any additional services purchased, such as baggage fees or seat selection.

Right to Compensation:

In addition to a refund, you may be entitled to compensation if the cancellation was within Lufthansa’s control and you were not informed at least 14 days before departure. The compensation amount varies as per flight distance:
- €250 for flights up to 1,500 km
- €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km
- €600 for flights over 3,500 km

Exemptions:

Lufthansa is exempt from providing compensation if the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond their control, such as severe weather, political instability, or security risks. However, a full refund or rebooking must still be offered.

Does Lufthansa Refund the Money?

In many cases, if your flight is canceled, Lufthansa will automatically initiate the refund process. You will receive an email notification informing you of the cancellation and the steps being taken to refund your ticket. The refund will be done using the first payment method.

How Do I Apply for a Refund or Compensation?

Sometimes, the airline may not process the refund automatically. If this happens to you, you will have to apply for a refund. There are certain ways through which a passenger can apply for a refund. Here are some options.

Online Refund Request: If the refund is not processed automatically, you can request it via Lufthansa’s website. Simply log into your booking on the Lufthansa homepage, select the canceled flight, and follow the prompts to request a refund. You may need to provide your booking reference number and personal details. The airline will send you the confirmation email when you apply for a refund. You can always track the live status of your refund through ‘Manage my Booking.’

Contacting Customer Service: If you prefer to speak to a representative or if there are any complications with your refund, you can contact Lufthansa’s customer service. They will assist you in processing the refund or rebooking your flight. You will just have to share the ticket details with the agent and request a refund or rebooking. The agent will do the rest for you on your behalf. Remember this: When you apply for a refund through Lufthansa customer support, you will have to pay the airline a service fee.

What If I Cancel the Flight?

The passenger may also feel a requirement to cancel the flight. Under this condition, the passenger will have to pay an airline fee. As per the Airlines cancellation policy, the airline will deduct the standard charges from the ticket price and refund the remaining amount to the passenger. Under some conditions, the airline may not impose a penalty on flight cancelation. So, before you cancel the flight, you must go through the policies of the airline:

When a passenger cancels the flight within 24 hours of their booking, the airline does not impose any penalty or charges on the passenger. However, there must be seven or more days left in flight departure when canceling.
If a passenger has a medical condition due to which he/she is unable to continue his/her travel. They can cancel it after presenting their medical reports to the airline.
In case of the death of a passenger or an immediate member of the family, the airline allows the passenger to cancel the ticket and get a refund.
Ticket must be unused when applying for a refund.
Refundable tickets are eligible for a refund irrespective of fare type and timing.
The refund will be initiated to the original source of payment.
The refund can take upto 7 to 10 days to be reflected in the passenger’s account.
When the passenger has booked their flight through a third party, they are supposed to contact the travel to apply for a refund or any query related to flight refund.
The passenger is required to inform the airline if they decide to discontinue their travel. If the passenger fails to inform the airline and does not show up to board the flight, the airline will consider this a no-show and forfeit the full price of the ticket.

Conclusion

When Lufthansa cancels the flight, passengers are entitled to a refund, compensation, or rebook their flight ticket to another date or time. Lufthansa tries its best to process the refund immediately. However, sometimes passengers may have to be involved in some formalities, and therefore, the refund may take some time, depending on the circumstances. Go through the information provided above and learn more about Lufthansa's refund. For more information, visit their official website.

Recent Blogs